County Durham Birth Photography
Empowerment | Healing | Inspiration
Birth Photography is about capturing your child’s story from the very beginning and celebrating your powerful transformation in all its glory.
Birth at its core is a multitude of emotions, messiness, and uncontrollable joy! Whether it's the best day of your life or the hardest, witnessing the complexity of our human journeys can bring healing and empowerment.
Birth Imagery is also the way we reclaim the birth narrative! Instilling confidence instead of fear in our next generation of mothers and birthing bodies.
I believe your birth story is important, that it’s a day not just for celebrating your little one but also a transformational moment for YOU!, I hold very strong to the belief that my role as a birth keeper and photographer is meant to hold the MOTHER, not really the baby.
I also believe telling our stories and documenting these complex, amazing, messy, and life-changing birth days can change the world!
My calendar for births is very limited so please inquire for most up to date availability.
Birth Photography & Doula Collection Pricing
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Coverage of your birth story from active labor through to 2 hours postpartum
On-call from 38 weeks through to birthday.
+
Downloadable gallery of images 150+ high-resolution fully edited images with print release
£1200
Must be delivering at home around Durham City or at University of North Durham Hospital
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Coverage of your birth story from active labor through to 2 hours postpartum
On-call from 38 weeks through to birthday.
+
Downloadable gallery of images 150+ high resolution fully edited images with print release
+
A postpartum motherhood session within 3 days after the birth includes birth debrief & full gallery of high resolution fully edited images
£1650
Must be planning to deliver at home within 1 hour travel of Durham City
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Video Coverage of your birth story from active labor through to 2 hours postpartum
On-call from 38 weeks through to birthday.
+
a 5-7 minute birth film with licensed music
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25 high-resolution digital images with options to purchase additional files
£2000
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Balancing both doula care and Birth photography throughout your birth story.
Includes:
Birth and Pregnancy Keeping starting upon booking and through to postpartum.
2 in-person meetings before your due date: Connection Meeting & Birth Expectation Support
Attendance at your birth from when you need me to 3 hours postpartum
50 high-resolution digital images from your birth story
1-in-person postpartum debrief meeting, womb healing support (with postpartum photos optional)
£2000
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The perfect collection to tell your story of motherhood from pregnancy to birth and through to a sweet newborn session at home within the first 4 weeks after birth.
Includes:
a 1 hour Maternity Session with Full gallery
Coverage of your full birth story (Simply Birth collection with options to upgrade for travel or video if preferred)
a 1 hour Newborn Session with Full gallery
£2500
add a Full Story Film for £500
Testimonials & real birth stories
“I will hire Hanna for the birth of every child I have(and have for my first two). From our very first contact Hanna was helpful and supportive, she’s so experienced in the birth world that she gave me advice about things I never would have thought about. Not only did she capture one of the most important moments of my life, but she was part of the reason it went so smoothly to begin with. Hanna isn’t just a photographer, for me she felt like a friend in the room, she advocated for me when I needed her to and captured every moment that was important to me. I was worried about being photographed in such a vulnerable state, but she made me feel 100% comfortable! When she missed my second birth (because it happened so fast and I had baby basically in my front yard) she did everything in her power to capture my story through a postpartum film story. My only regret is not investing in one of her more extensive packages.”
Kaitlyn
“I am forever thankful for Hanna. I do not like being photographed. At all. But I ended up with zero photos from my second birth, and promised myself if I ever had another baby I would hire a photographer. I almost talked myself out of the whole idea of having my homebirth photographed. But after meeting with Hanna, I knew she was the photographer for me.
She was kind and genuine..exactly what I needed.
When the time came, she was there and she was WONDERFUL. I can't tell you how often I look and my photos and love them more every single time. I have absolutely no regrets, and I could not recommend her enough. Everything was perfect and as promised!
Summer
“ Hanna was absolutely amazing! She photographed my second birth, and hiring her was the best decision I made. She captured the beauty of labor, my marriage with my husband, and my relationship with my 3-year-old daughter, who was also at the birth. When my baby and I had complications following the birth, I could look at the photographs to really find healing in the experience. They are still my favorite family photos.”
Alyssa
“ On the day that I went into labor, we called Hanna, and she came right to the hospital. She spent the entire day with us. She was the perfect mix of "fly on the wall" and also helper, when needed. She had a calming presence and was also able to keep the mood light and make me laugh when I needed it! When we got the photos, I was shocked at how intense and real the images were. I honestly don't even remember he being as close as she was for some of those moments. I definitely didn't feel uncomfortable being photographed, which to me, speaks volumes to how she maneuvers around the room.”
Caroline
“I am absolutely IN LOVE. Whenever I’m having a rough night with the baby or feeling down about myself I’ve been looking back on the pictures to remind myself how powerful I was that day. It’s been a great reminder that I can do anything.”
Mariah
“After having a photographer at my first birth, I knew I needed to have a photographer for my second. I was still grieving a miscarriage from the previous year, and I felt so guarded about my pregnancy. I wanted to celebrate the sacredness of this pregnancy and sweet baby, if even just for me. The universe brought Hanna to us, and I couldn't be more thankful. She was kind and funny, and at ease in such an intense and intimate birthing space. I love her approach to birth photography, and the raw beauty she seeks out in her photos. So many details of my son's birth will fade as the years pass, but I'm thankful that the beautiful, messy, vulnerable, and empowering process that is his birth will be captured forever.
Alicia
“Hanna was an amazing photographer to work with during the birth of my son. She kept in constant communication with me throughout the pregnancy, and the day of the birth she came promptly and I hardly noticed she was there. Hanna was able to capture the most beautiful and intimate photos during this time that we truly can't get enough of. They will forever be cherished and we are so thankful to have these memories!”
Phallin
“As fellow birth photographer, I have experienced the calm and grounded presence Hanna brings into the birth world as well as the gentle tenderness she shows throughout the process of working with her. She is confident and easy to connect with on a personal level and yet her approach in the space is experienced and full of honor for birth and motherhood itself. The way in which she photographed the birth of my daughter made my family and I feel seen, respected, and celebrated for all 9 months. She captured nuances of our story in such a way that brought deep healing for which I am forever grateful.
Maggie
“ I'll have to go through these a million times!I have SO. MANY. FAVORITES. You're GD amazing. It was the best decision we made, having you there as a doula and having these pictures done for both of my children's birth stories. I couldn't be happier about it. You are so talented and I am so grateful!
Rachael
I’m pretty modest…Can I keep my images private?
YES!
You get the say on sharing or not sharing any image or film from your birth journey! While I am passionate about the power of birth imagery and the education and inspiration it can provide, I do not ask any family to share beyond their comfort! Along with your booking contract, you will be able to sign a model release that goes over the matter to which you are comfortable or not comfortable sharing photos/film clips from your birth.
DO YOU CAPTURE BIRTHS IN MY AREA?
At this time I only capture births at home, birth center, or University of North Durham Hospital. If you are planning an out-of-hospital birth but need to transfer for any reason I will of course still accompany you to your hospital if permitted.
For home births I travel within 1 hour of Durham City included with all my collections. At this time I only offer travel options on a case-by-case basis so please reach out if you are a bit further than 1 hour.
Frequently Asked Questions about Birth Photography
What Does a birth Collection Include?
All birth collections include an in-person (or zoom) connection meeting prior to booking, On-call days starting at 38 weeks until baby arrives, Attendance at your birth starting at “active” labor through to 2 hours postpartum
Then each package has different included Art to tell the story of your powerful day.
WHAT DOES “ON-CALL” MEAN?
This means phone on loud all night long and on me all throughout the day so I can respond as quickly as possible to any notice of labor! I structure my life in a way that I can head your way as soon as you need me. This often looks like active labor but depending on the distance of your home and what travel I need to plan, it can look like just first notice. While 38 -42 weeks is my on-call days this doesn't mean I don't do my absolute best to drop everything to come and be by your side at any time earlier or later. If I want to take a vacation or weekend off I hire a backup to cover just the possibility of a baby coming during the 4 weeks of your “on call” time so that there is no chance your birth will be missed. I also only take a very limited number of births each month so overlap is rare.
DO YOU OFFER DOULA SUPPORT WITHOUT PHOTOGRAPHY?
At this time I am only offering combination services under my Birth Keeper package.
Do you need Birth Support?
My holistic approach to birth keeping includes not only education for having a healthy baby but guidance and support for honoring your experience however it unfolds.
Check out the blog for valuable birth education
Everything you wish someone told you about the "Pushing Phase" of birth! An unapologetic look at the mysterious pushing phase of giving birth that explores the risk of overly managed pushing and the myths surrounding the best time to try pushing in medicated and unmedicated birthing situations.